At 16:29 03 February 2009, Bob Kuykendall wrote:

http://www.vansaircraft.com/public/flights.htm

I work on an RV-8 two nights a week, and I've been to Vans factory in
Aurora, Oregon, and it has been an incredible experience to see what
you can do with a rational and balanced approach to a kit airplane.
With the pre-punched and pre-drilled holes, relatively few jigs are
required and the whole thing sort of just falls together in the
correct alignment. It is easy to get started, and easy to keep making
progress.

The comparison to even the fairly complete Schreder kits of the 1960s
and 1970s is like night and day. There's no stress and anxiety around
transferring measurements and doing hole layouts and wondering if
you're about to ruin a part by drilling a hole in the wrong spot. All
the bulkheads and ribs are formed to shape, and almost all the skins
are trimmed to outline.

What's really amazing about the RVs, and is definitely an example to
look to, is the resale value. Any reasonably well-built and flyable RV
will command a price that is substantially greater than the cost of
the kit plus the cost of the engine and avionics and other items that
went into it.

Thanks again, Bob K.

RV is the marvelous example of modern technology!!!
In the open minded high volume USA aviation contest.
Same apply to some Ultralite kits.
I have seen an Ultralight Rotax 912 Landafrica, which is an
exact copy of the Zenair, built in two months.
We'll see soon a kit glider with the same success of the RVs,
in my mind the HP24 will sell like candies, if the price is
right!!!!!

So many para/delta gliders pilots are getting old and are ready to
transition to the comfort of soaring!!!!
They already know how to fly.
They want to fly cheapo and often..............
They are used to go nowhere...........
They will be able to fly into stronger winds.......
They will have more time because of the economy.
etc etc etc
Only a few of them are millionaires.